Applying to DO schools - Advice please

[sunstar1877]

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I am a non-trad student with a 3.3 cum. and 27M MCAT (7v, 10BS, 9PS). I have had 3 internships while in college doing reserach and have been published in the Journal of Microbiology. I also have good ECs and volunteering experience in an ER. I think my MCAT is too low for allopathic school but can someone please tell me if I am competitive enough for osteopathic school?

I have also talked with several MD's and DO's b/w the difference in their work and it seems there is none. So why would someone choose MD over DO? Is it prestige? Do DO's have the same chances at residency positions? Do hospitals/clinics hire as many DO's as MD's? I'm just wondering if I should retake the MCAT in hopes for a higher score to apply to allopathic school or not. If I will be doing the same work as an MD why would I retake the MCAT? Any advice?
Thanks!!

 

[Fin-Nor]

it sounds as though you are having a change of heart (MD-->DO) due to your mcat score within only a few days. imo, it doesnt seem like you're too enthusiastic about DO right now, so it leads me to ask you if you will ever be?

if your heart is set on MD, retake mcat and try again... although i dont think ur mcat is too low to not let you gain any acceptances as of this point.

know a couple ppl, previous cycle, who got into TAMU and Tulance with 27.

gl

p.s. - btw, what's your real sn on sdn?

 

[sunstar1877]

It's not that I have a change in heart, I just don't know a lot about DO vs. MD. Can you elaborate on the differences? From my experience in the field most DO's practice conventional medicine and use little of the osteopathic aspect of their degree. What is sn or sdn?
thanks!!

 

[Robz]

It's not that I have a change in heart, I just don't know a lot about DO vs. MD. Can you elaborate on the differences? From my experience in the field most DO's practice conventional medicine and use little of the osteopathic aspect of their degree. What is sn or sdn?
thanks!!

sn = screen name and sdn = student doctor network....


anyway, here is what I did sunstar. I could read until I was blue in the face the similarities and differences in allopathic and osteopathic physicians. This website is a great resource.

BUT

I highly suggest you shadow MD's and DO's. Make up your own mind. Ask some questions...find out some answers. As always your more than welcome to ask here but I really made my decision after shadowing MULTIPLE physicians. I was accepted to both allopathic and osteopathic schools...I chose my school for many factors.

so...now that I said that...here is the main differences that I can think of at the top of my head...

DO's believe in
-structure dictating function
-the body has an ability to heal itself
-the body is interconnected so you treat the whole person not just the disease. A quote I heard once was MD's treat the diseases in people and DO's treat the people with diseases.

DO also use OMT as an additional tool in their treatment along with everything else in conventional medicine.

thats all I can think of cause its lunch time 🙂

 

[(nicedream)]

sn is screename, sdn is student doctor network.

As for the difference between DO and MD - essentially it's a matter of choice. A DO can choose to practice medicine no differently than an MD would - this is the majority of DO's. However, because of the additional training we receive in OMM, this is another option that DO's can use in their practices. Osteopathic medicine also places an emphasis on "treating the whole person" and looking at a person with a problem, not a problem with a patient. Thus there are philosophical differences which in reality an MD could apply if he/she chose.

Some people prefer MD over DO because of perceived prestige. Some prefer it because it can be cheaper if they are able to go to their state MD school - most DO schools are private, thus expensive. There is also the issue of residency - DO's are able to do MD residencies as well as DO residencies, which are open only to DO's. However the quality and quantity of DO residencies is often called into question. If you're interested in primary care, you won't have any problem securing a great residency of your choice. However, if you're interested in the competitive specialties, such as derm, you will need to be very impressive to secure an MD spot in that field. There are, however, always the DO spots for you. There are DO residencies in almost every specialty (I believe path is the only one not available?). Regardless, the difference in this respect, and probably all others, is minimal.

On a biased note, I think you'll find us DO types a more friendly and laid back bunch. 😉

 

[BACMEDIC]

BTW: A 27 is not to low for MD. I know UCONN also accepts a 27, and at times lower.

 

[gr8n]

A 27 is not too low indeed!

Especially because you have the non-traditional student "advantage."

What I mean is that some MD schools (as well as DO) not only look at a person's scores and gpa when deciding their fate, if you would. When an applicant is a non-traditional applicant, he/she might have an addition to the application that most applicants don't possess...(life experience, for example). Your story, in combination with your 3.3 gpa and your 27MCAT just might be enough to get you into an MD school. Definitely try if that is where your heart truly is.

For your information, I have a very close, VERY intelligent friend who applied to an MD school (a really good state school at that) with a 17 on her MCAT! She was interviewed AND accepted...AND at her interview, they told her that they had a student currently enrolled with lower MCAT scores than her.

She, however, chose to go DO....where her passion was to begin with... (God bless her heart 😉 )

My advice to you is to start writing a kick-a$$ personal statement...

Good luck!

gr8n
LECOM-Bradenton
c/o 2008
"You can't spell Doctor without the DO!"